Sthanam - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition sthanam

Definition :

Sthanam, some of the aristocratic Hindu families in the west coast had attached to their families an office called Sthanam meaning literally 'status, rank, or dignity'. The holder of Sthanam was called a Sthanee or Sthanamdar. The rule granted Sthanams to their Chieftains and important public officers which were usually accompanied by a grant of land for the maintenance of the dignity of the officer. One important feature was that Sthanamdar ceased to have any interest in the property of his tarwad and the members of his tarwad had in their turn only reversionary rights to the Sthanam properties. The Sthanamdar had a limited estate, M.K. Balakrishna Menon v. Assistant Controller of Estate Duty-cum-Income Tax Officer, AIR 1971 SC 2392: (1972) 1 SCR 961: (1971) 2 SCC 909. [Hidnu Succession Act, 1956, s. 7(3)]